Danzo, You Will Regret This Too

For various reasons, the first clash with the Masked Man didn't go too well.

But another matter had made decent progress.

Under the application of various methods, the Security Division finally managed to uncover some leads.

The few guys they'd caught weren't Konoha ninja at all, but rogue ninja from other villages.

They often colluded with bandits, making a living by robbing homes and businesses.

Later, a mysterious person approached them, gave them a lot of money, and helped them sneak into Konoha.

As for what they needed to do, it was simple: spread rumors about Naruto and the Uchiha.

Because the employer was willing to pay generously, they agreed readily.

They never expected Eiji to be more thuggish than the thugs themselves—he slapped the label of spy on them, dragged them straight to the Security Division, and beat them half to death.

After that, they finally confessed.

When they learned this matter was connected to Root Organization, the Uchiha clan members nearly laughed themselves into a cramp.

Go get him!

The next day, they compiled the information and sent a representative, Eiji, to deliver it to the Hokage.

"Hokage-sama, based on what they confessed, the person who hired them was Ryoma."

Eiji stopped talking there.

Then he saw a small, red-hot old man.

Hiruzen had served as Hokage for decades and, in his youth, had been a student of the unscrupulous Senju Tobirama.

Naturally, he had learned many underhanded tricks.

For instance, establishing Root Organization and letting Danzo handle certain matters in his own way.

Precisely because of this, he quickly thought of a dangerous possibility.

These guys were hired by Ryoma to infiltrate Konoha Village—so who hired Ryoma?

Danzo.

Ryoma only took orders from Danzo.

Later, Ryoma was killed, and the murderer was the Masked Man.

So the question is, why did the Masked Man kill Ryoma?

And who ordered the Masked Man to do it?

Hiruzen believed it was still Danzo.

He had three reasons.

Hiruzen knew that Danzo had always believed only the dead could keep secrets.

With the Security Division's investigation, Ryoma's affairs would eventually be exposed, so killing him was a simple solution.

The second reason was that for the Masked Man to infiltrate Konoha silently, there must have been an insider tipping him off, helping him evade Konoha's defensive forces.

The only one capable of that was also Danzo.

The third reason was the Wood Style Ninjutsu the Masked Man used.

Hiruzen recalled that many years ago, Danzo had conducted Wood Style Experiments under his authorization.

Later, he found the experiments too cruel and ordered them to cease.

But.

Was it possible that Danzo, like Orochimaru, had been conducting secret research?

Hiruzen thought it very likely.

What couldn't his old friend do?

All these possibilities piled together, making Hiruzen increasingly certain that Danzo was definitely problematic.

At the same time, he felt a chill down his back.

Would Danzo do something even more dangerous?

Additionally, there was another issue: where did the intruder's Sharingan come from?

Was he a member of the Uchiha clan, or someone who had seized a Sharingan by some method?

Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke. "You may go back first."

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

After Eiji left, Hiruzen sent for Danzo.

"Danzo, tell me honestly, how did Ryoma die?"

Danzo's heart tightened. "Hiruzen, what do you mean by that?"

He felt Hiruzen was being inexplicable.

Yes, he had intended to kill Ryoma.

But before he could act, Ryoma was already killed by someone else.

If you can't find the book by searching the title, try searching the author—maybe it was just renamed.

In Konoha's code, there's no rule that wanting someone dead is a punishable offense.

Faced with Danzō's refusal to admit anything, Hiruzen sighed inwardly.

Sure enough, Danzō was a master of playing dumb.

He flung the scroll at Danzō's face. "See for yourself! The Security Division has already investigated everything clearly!"

At the words "Security Division," Danzō's heart skipped a beat.

Especially when he saw the name "Aburame Ryoma" among those involved, sweat beaded on his forehead.

Even so, Danzō quickly regained his composure.

"Hiruzen, can the Security Division's words be trusted? Remember, the ones investigating this are the Uchiha—this is their slander against Konoha's high command."

"I believe it's necessary to strip them of their enforcement authority."

"Today they dare to frame others, tomorrow they'll dare to rebel!"

Hiruzen slammed the table in anger. "Bastard! Danzō, do you even know what you're saying!"

"Confess honestly—did you send someone to kill Ryoma to silence him?!"

Danzō couldn't believe his ears.

He was always the one framing others—how had it become his turn to be framed?

"Ryoma was my subordinate! How could I possibly do something like that!"

"Then explain how he could use Wood Style!"

"Just because he could use Wood Style means I sent him? The one who experimented with me back then was also your beloved disciple, Orochimaru!"

At the name "Orochimaru," Hiruzen snapped back to clarity.

"Danzō, Orochimaru is indeed suspicious, but your problem is far greater!"

Danzō was stunned.

He didn't understand why Hiruzen would rather believe a rogue ninja of Konoha than trust him, the diligent Hokage Assistant.

"Hiruzen, back then you let Orochimaru escape because of your hesitation. Are you going to shield him now too?"

Hiruzen suddenly fell silent.

He knew Danzō had a point.

Wait—Hiruzen suddenly realized the topic had strayed.

He was supposed to be addressing Danzō's grave crime of sending people to spread rumors in the village, frame the Uchiha, and sabotage relations between both sides.

"I will continue investigating Ryoma's death, but you cannot escape blame for framing the Uchiha!"

"I did not!"

"Even if there's no direct evidence tying you to it, Ryoma was ultimately your subordinate—you are highly suspect."

Hiruzen tapped the desk.

"Relinquish your positions as Root Organization leader and Hokage Assistant for three months. Reflect on your actions at home, Shimura Danzō."

Danzō clenched his teeth, staring coldly at Hiruzen.

"Hiruzen, you actually—"

Hiruzen waved his hand. "Get out."

Danzō tightened his fists, then slowly released them.

He walked out of the Hokage Building, then suddenly stopped.

Danzō was regretful—deeply regretful.

If only he had been braver back then, perhaps Lord Tobirama would have chosen him as Hokage.

If he had become Hokage, those evil Uchiha would have been annihilated long ago.

No—not just the Uchiha.

He could have done even more, mastered the power of tailed beasts, Wood Style, and the Sharingan.

The entire shinobi world would belong to Konoha.

But now, he could only hide in the sunless shadows every day, an unknown Root.

While the Monkey basked in everyone's admiration.

"I won't accept this!"

Danzō silently screamed in his heart.

The reason he dared not shout aloud was his fear that Hiruzen might hear.

Realizing this only made Danzo angrier.

How infuriating—had Hiruzen really left him with such a deep psychological scar?

Thinking this, Danzo glanced back at the Hokage Building.

"One day, this place will belong to me."